TDRS Heart of Communication

  • Released Monday, May 21st, 2012
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:53PM
  • ID: 10976

The most recent evaluations of NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) project confirmed all systems go for TDRS-K, a third generation upgrade of the orbiting communications network. TDRS-K is scheduled for launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida during the 2012 holiday season.

The launch of TDRS-K will begin the replenishment of the fleet through the development and deployment of the next generation spacecraft. These satellites will ensure NASA's Space Network continues to provide around-the-clock, high throughput communications services to NASA's missions and serving the scientific community and human spaceflight program for years to come.

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This animation shows TDRS receiving data from the Hubble Space Telescope.

This animation shows TDRS at multiple angles.

This animation shows multiple TDRS spacecraft around the Earth.

A beauty pass of the TDRS spacecraft.

For More Information

See http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions:

Series

This visualization can be found in the following series:

Tapes

This visualization originally appeared on the following tapes:
  • TDRS - Heart of Communication (ID: 2012037)
    Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 4:00AM
    Produced by - Werner Benger